Hurricane Ian Makes Second U.S. Landfall In South Carolina

Topline

Hurricane Ian made landfall on South Carolina’s coast Friday as a Category 1 storm, and it’s expected to bring storm surges, heavy rainfall and 85 mph winds—just two days after the storm hit Florida, leaving more than 2.5 million without power and killing at least 21.

Key Facts

Ian made landfall just after 2 p.m. near Georgetown, South Carolina, roughly 30 miles southwest of Myrtle Beach and 50 miles northeast of Charleston.

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center warn it could cause “life-threatening” storm surges and hurricane-force winds along the coast of South Carolina and the southeastern stretch of North Carolina’s coast.

The NHC also expects flooding on Thursday across coastal North and South Carolina, as well as southeast Virginia, with “major” to “record” river flooding through next week in parts of central Florida, as that state continues to reel from the storm, which made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast before weakening into a tropical storm as it crossed the state.

More than 185,000 people in South Carolina and 55,000 in North Carolina have lost power, according to PowerOutage.us.

Key Background

Communities across the Florida Gulf Coast experienced some of the strongest effects of the storm, including Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Sanibel, which were all placed under mandatory evacuation orders as the storm approached. Rescue efforts are ongoing throughout central Florida, where 21 people have been reported dead and more than 1.8 million remain without electricity. On Thursday, President Joe Biden said Ian could be the deadliest in state history.

What To Watch For

Meteorologists expect heavy rain, severe storm surges and winds throughout coastal South Carolina, and are also warning of possible tornadoes along the coast on Friday. NHC says the storm is expected to “weaken rapidly” into a post-tropical cyclone overnight as it moves slowly northward through eastern South Carolina into central North Carolina, dissipating on Saturday.

Further Reading

‘Life-Threatening Storm Surge’: Historic Hurricane Ian Strengthens As It Nears South Carolina Landfall (Forbes)

At Least 21 Dead From Hurricane Ian In Florida—And Numbers Expected To Rise (Forbes)